COOKS &amp; Bakers have had one goal driving them forward since they formed in 2018 - sell out the Cambridge Hotel warehouse bar. "Early on we played with a few other bands that had some good turn outs at the Cambridge, and since then it's always been a goal of ours to try and sell out the Cambridge," Cooks &amp; Bakers bassist Nathaniel Duggan said. "It's something cool to put on the resume, so to speak." On February 22, mere weeks before the live music industry was effectively shut down due to COVID-19, the Newcastle three-piece launched their latest single Stay at the venue. Just under 200 tickets were pre-sold for the gig and within 40 minutes of the doors opening the venue had reached its 250 capacity. "It was quite exciting for us and not something we thought would happen, but it was definitely a goal kicked," Duggan said. The success of the launch and their previous tracks Don't Hold Your Breath, Wax and Cage - which have attracted more than 150,000 streams combined on Spotify - has given Cooks &amp; Bakers the confidence to push ahead with a debut EP. Duggan said he and his bandmates Campbell Ross (guitar, vocals) and Finn Ellem (drums) are using the coronavirus-imposed break as a chance to formulate their recording plans. "We're figuring out who we want to work with and what kind of territory we want to go in," he said. "We've got a good idea and a few things locked in, but it depends on how this pandemic goes." The three former Macquarie College students formed Cooks &amp; Bakers shortly after graduating from year 12. "The drummer and guitarist, Campbell and Finn, had always been playing together at school and I just found a bass guitar sitting by the side of the road in a street clean up and it happened to work, so I invited the boys over and gave it a crack," Duggan said. From there Ross began writing chilled indie-rock songs which are influenced by the likes of Ocean Alley, Nothing But Thieves, Pinegrove and Spacey Jane. READ MORE: Honey Hills prepare for sweet release THERE'S been some creative uses of social media by musicians to keep active during the COVID-19 shutdown, including Instagram concerts. On Sunday night Hunter Valley troubadour William Crighton began reading over Instagram US writer Philip K. Dick's apt 1960 science fiction novel, Dr Futurity, about a physician who travels hundreds of years into the future to a world where the sick and vulnerable are killed to preserve the strong. Crighton will read 30 minutes every night from 9.30 in his trademark country baritone until the book is finished. THE death in 2016 of Merewether Fats Blues Jam founder Mark Salter didn't end the monthly session and nor will coronavirus. On Thursday at 7.30pm the Stag and Hunter Hotel will relaunch the Merewether Fats Blues Jam with members invited to post video performances to the Facebook site. Of course all the old rules apply, the songs can be originals or covers, but they're gotta be blues.

Cooks & Bakers shift the goalposts after ticking off Cambridge Hotel sell out

COOKS & Bakers have had one goal driving them forward since they formed in 2018 - sell out the Cambridge Hotel warehouse bar.

"Early on we played with a few other bands that had some good turn outs at the Cambridge, and since then it's always been a goal of ours to try and sell out the Cambridge," Cooks & Bakers bassist Nathaniel Duggan said.

"It's something cool to put on the resume, so to speak."

On February 22, mere weeks before the live music industry was effectively shut down due to COVID-19, the Newcastle three-piece launched their latest single Stay at the venue.

Just under 200 tickets were pre-sold for the gig and within 40 minutes of the doors opening the venue had reached its 250 capacity.

Cooks & Bakers - Stay

"It was quite exciting for us and not something we thought would happen, but it was definitely a goal kicked," Duggan said.

The success of the launch and their previous tracks Don't Hold Your Breath, Wax and Cage - which have attracted more than 150,000 streams combined on Spotify - has given Cooks & Bakers the confidence to push ahead with a debut EP.

Duggan said he and his bandmates Campbell Ross (guitar, vocals) and Finn Ellem (drums) are using the coronavirus-imposed break as a chance to formulate their recording plans.

"We're figuring out who we want to work with and what kind of territory we want to go in," he said.

"We've got a good idea and a few things locked in, but it depends on how this pandemic goes."

The three former Macquarie College students formed Cooks & Bakers shortly after graduating from year 12.

"The drummer and guitarist, Campbell and Finn, had always been playing together at school and I just found a bass guitar sitting by the side of the road in a street clean up and it happened to work, so I invited the boys over and gave it a crack," Duggan said.

From there Ross began writing chilled indie-rock songs which are influenced by the likes of Ocean Alley, Nothing But Thieves, Pinegrove and Spacey Jane.

BEDTIME STORIES WITH CRIGHTON

THERE'S been some creative uses of social media by musicians to keep active during the COVID-19 shutdown, including Instagram concerts.

On Sunday night Hunter Valley troubadour William Crighton began reading over Instagram US writer Philip K. Dick's apt 1960 science fiction novel, Dr Futurity, about a physician who travels hundreds of years into the future to a world where the sick and vulnerable are killed to preserve the strong.

Crighton will read 30 minutes every night from 9.30 in his trademark country baritone until the book is finished.

FAT BLUES LIVES ON

THE death in 2016 of Merewether Fats Blues Jam founder Mark Salter didn't end the monthly session and nor will coronavirus.

On Thursday at 7.30pm the Stag and Hunter Hotel will relaunch the Merewether Fats Blues Jam with members invited to post video performances to the Facebook site.

Of course all the old rules apply, the songs can be originals or covers, but they're gotta be blues.